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<br />slight and limited mainly to the winter IlDnths..." <br />during a bighorn sheep count by boat between Lodore <br />Echo Park, September, 1971, 32 deer in small groups <br />along the river in contrast to only 8 bighorn. <br /> <br />However, <br />and <br />were seen <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />There is a possibility that the mule deer may playa more <br />important role in the canyons than had been previously thought. <br />Some of these deer may be permanent residents along the river <br />in the wilderness. Altogether, the deer in Ladore Canyon <br />could have impact on the vegetation comparable. in degree to <br />the bighorn. <br /> <br />Most studies concerning ungulates in the monument have been <br />speculative concerning the relationship between deer, bighorn <br />sheep and livestock and their respective competition for <br />forage on a deteriorated range. A study satisfying these <br />unknowns has been proposed as the first priority research <br />need of the monument, but thus far the funds to carry out the <br />work have not been. avai lab Ie. <br /> <br />Climate <br /> <br />The monument has a semi-arid climate with dry, hot summers <br />and dry, cold winters. Summer temperatures decrease with <br />increased elevation. There is increased precipitation during <br />the winter with increased elevation. These statements are <br />generally true for the entire year, but not with the same <br />consistency as during the particular season mentioned. Lower <br />elevations on the monument (less than 6,000 feet) receive <br />approximately 7 to 9 inches of annual rainfall. Higher <br />elevations (approximately 6,000 to 9,000 feet) receive be- <br />tween 11 to 14 inches. <br /> <br />Daily and seasonal temperatures vaty widely, as is typical <br />for inland areas. Daily maximum and minimum temperatures during <br />the summer range between 45 or 50 degrees F to 100 degrees F. <br />Minimum temperatures during the winter months occasionally <br />fall below a minus 10 degrees F at night. This is particularly <br />true for the IIIOnth of January, the coldest month of the year. <br />Daytime temperatures during January seldom exceed 32 degrees F. <br />Snowfall averages 39 inches per year at Dinosaur headquarters. <br /> <br />B. Archeology andhistorv <br /> <br />Archeological evidence shows that the most extensive early <br />occupation of the monument was between 1000 and 1150 AD <br />by the Fremont Culture, the northern most extension of the <br /> <br />19 <br /> <br />1236 <br />